EP1467189B1 - Füllstandssensor zur seitlichen Montage - Google Patents

Füllstandssensor zur seitlichen Montage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1467189B1
EP1467189B1 EP04007771.1A EP04007771A EP1467189B1 EP 1467189 B1 EP1467189 B1 EP 1467189B1 EP 04007771 A EP04007771 A EP 04007771A EP 1467189 B1 EP1467189 B1 EP 1467189B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
float
float sensor
horizontal shaft
tank
base
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP04007771.1A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1467189A1 (de
Inventor
Neil Gansebom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Littelfuse Inc
Original Assignee
Littelfuse Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Littelfuse Inc filed Critical Littelfuse Inc
Publication of EP1467189A1 publication Critical patent/EP1467189A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1467189B1 publication Critical patent/EP1467189B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H36/00—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
    • H01H36/02—Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding actuated by movement of a float carrying a magnet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/30—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
    • G01F23/64—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements
    • G01F23/72—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements using magnetically actuated indicating means
    • G01F23/74—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats of the free float type without mechanical transmission elements using magnetically actuated indicating means for sensing changes in level only at discrete points

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to float sensors for monitoring the level of a liquid in a container and can be mounted in the side of a fluid container.
  • fluid is stored in a tank and drawn from the tank for use either periodically or continuously.
  • it is desirable to continuously monitor the level of the fluid within the tank for example in the case of a gas tank, so that the range of the vehicle can be determined at any time.
  • fluid is drawn out infrequently and a simple indication of when the fluid level is low is all that is needed. When a low fluid level is indicated, sufficient fluid remains so as to allow a refilling of the fluid tank without undue inconvenience.
  • replacement of non-critical fluids is dependent on the owner or service technician periodically checking the level of the fluid.
  • Cost and reliability are influenced by simplicity in construction and assembly. What is needed is a fluid level sensor that meets the criteria of simplicity of construction and assembly.
  • US 5742999 discloses a side-mountable liquid level sensor, where a float sensor body is provided with a horizontal shaft having an internal reed switch. A float is places around the horizontal shaft, which is provided with wings to support and limit the movement of the float. A rubber sealing grommet facilitates assembly of the sensor within a tank.
  • US 3750124 discloses a side-mountable float sensor for measuring the liquid level in a tank.
  • a buoyant member placed in a fluid level reservoir which is in fluid connection with the liquid contained in the tank, and can slide vertically along guides around a reed switch.
  • the side-mounted float sensor of this invention has eight components: a reed switch, two leads, a molded connector, a sensor body, a sealing grommet, a float, and an activation magnet.
  • the two leads are assembled to the molded connector and the reed switch is welded across the leads to complete the electrical circuit between the leads when the reed switch is closed.
  • the molded connector is inserted into the sensor body and attached by heat staking.
  • the molded plastic connector has a clocking flange which orients the float sensor by fitting within a corresponding depression in the exterior of a tank.
  • the sensor body has an opening which receives a piston portion of the float.
  • the float is keyed to the sensor body so that it can be inserted in only one orientation, and a flange extends from the sensor body so that the float can only be installed on one side of the sensor body.
  • the float is constructed of low density molded plastic and has a cavity into which a ceramic magnet is heat staked.
  • the sensor body terminates in a circular disk which guides the sensor body during insertion into a side wall of the fluid tank through the sealing grommet. The float, when resting on an upper portion of the sensor body is completely contained behind the circular disk. Thus the float does not produce interference with the sealing grommet when the sensor body is inserted through the sealing grommet into the fluid tank.
  • the senor When the tank is filled with fluid the sensor floats upwardly away from the sensor body so the activation magnet is sufficiently distant from the reed switch that the switch opens. When the fluid level in the tank falls below the float, the float sinks and the magnet causes the reed switch to close.
  • a float sensor 20 is shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the float sensor 20 is mounted through the side wall 22 of a tank 24, containing a liquid 25 such as washer fluid.
  • the float sensor 20 has an injection molded connector 26 to which is mounted a short lead frame 28, a long lead frame 30, and a reed switch 32.
  • the lead frames 28, 30 are inserted into the molded connector 26 and the reed switch 32 is welded to the leads so that when the switch is closed current flows between the leads 28, 30.
  • a flow of current through the reed switch 32 is used to indicate a low fluid condition.
  • the connector 26 is inserted into a sensor body 38 through an opening (not shown) formed in the base 36 of the sensor body 38.
  • the connector 26 has a clocking feature 34 which fits within a matched feature (not shown) in the base 36 of the sensor body 38, to assure correct orientation of the connector 26 and the attached reed switch with respect to the sensor body 38.
  • the connector 26 may be bonded, but is preferably heat staked, to the sensor body. Because the juncture 44 between the connector 26 and the sensor body 38 is outside the tank 24, and the reed switch 32 is hermetically sealed by its design, the connection between the connector 26 and the sensor body 38 does not require a hermetic seal.
  • the sensor body 38 has a flange 46 that extends from the base 36.
  • the flange 46 has a clocking feature 48 which inter-fits with a feature 50 on the exterior of the tank wall 22 to orient the sensor body 38 with respect to the tank 24.
  • the base 36 has a cylindrical sealing surface 52 which engages the inside surface 54 of an elastomeric grommet 56 which fits within an opening 58 formed in the side wall 22 of the tank 24.
  • the flange 46 engages against a flange 60 on the elastomeric grommet 56. Both the flange 46 on the sensor body 38 and the flange 60 on the elastomeric grommet 56 serve the function of holding a portion of the sensor body 38 or the grommet 56 on the outside of the tank wall 22.
  • the elastomeric grommet 56 has a ridged exterior circumferential surface 62 which serves to lock the grommet 56 within the opening 58 in the side wall of the tank 24.
  • the sensor body 38 terminates in a circular disk 64 which guides the insertion of the sensor body 38 through the central opening 66 of the grommet 56.
  • a generally prismatic horizontal shaft 68 extends horizontally from the base 36 of the sensor body 38.
  • the shaft 68 has a base portion 70 adjacent the base 36 of the sensor body which contains the reed switch 32. Further along the shaft 68 away from the base, are portions forming a substantially rectangular vertical opening 72.
  • a float 74 has a body portion 78 positioned above the horizontal shaft 68 and a rectangular member 80 which extends downwardly into the vertical opening 72 in the horizontal shaft 68.
  • the float 74 has an opening (not shown) in the body portion into which an activation magnet 76 is inserted above the float member 80. The magnet 76 is bonded or heat staked in place.
  • the float 74 is constructed from polypropylene to which a blowing agent has been added, in order to have a density, in combination with the magnet, considerably less than window washer fluid.
  • the rectangular vertical member 80 has a rectangular rail 82 extending from one face of the member 80. The rail 82 fits within a groove 84 co-formed with the vertical opening 72 to positively orient the rectangular member 80 and thus the body portion 78 of the float which contains the activation magnet 76.
  • the float vertical member 80 and the vertical opening 72 in the sensor body 38 are complementary in shape and not axisymmetric so that the vertical member can be positioned in the only one orientation within the opening.
  • the lower part of the rectangular member 80 has a relieved portion 86 which forms two resilient flanges 87 that have barbs 88 formed on lowermost outwardly facing ends.
  • the resilient flanges 87 or biasing members are bent inwardly so that the barbs 88 can pass through the rectangular vertical opening 72. Once the barbs 88 pass through the vertical opening 72, they are biased to resiliently spring outwardly, capturing the float 74 to the sensor body 38. Once inserted, the barbs 88 thus prevent removal of the float 74 from the sensor body 38.
  • a projection 90 extends from the lower surface 92 of the base portion 70 of the horizontal shaft 68.
  • the projection 90 prevents the vertical member 80 from being inserted far enough for the barbs to hold the float on the under side 94 of the vertical opening 72.
  • the upper surface 96 of the base portion 70 of the horizontal shaft 68 is convex having a narrow central strip which sloped side walls. The convex upper surface thus presents a small region of contact with the body portion 78 of the float when it is in a lowered position. This reduced contact area between the possibly damp float and the horizontal shaft 68 helps to prevent surface tension from overcoming the buoyancy forces on the float 74, which would prevent the float rising in response to the addition of liquid 25 to the container 24.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Level Indicators Using A Float (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Ein Schwimmersensor (20) zum Zusammenbau mit einer vertikalen Wand (22) eines Behälters (24), beinhaltend:
    einen Schwimmersensorkörper (38) mit einer Basis (36) und einem sich von der Basis erstreckenden Flansch (46);
    eine elastomere Durchführungsdichtung (56), welche die Basis (36) des Schwimmersensorkörpers (38) umgibt und an dem Flansch (46) anliegt, zum Abdichten der Basis (36) an einer Öffnung (58) in einer Behälterwand (22), wobei der Flansch (46) außen an dem Behälter (24) montiert ist;
    einen horizontalen Schaft (68), welcher sich von der Basis (36) des Schwimmersensorkörpers (38) erstreckt, wobei der horizontale Schaft (68) einen Abschnitt (70) neben der Basis (36) des Schwimmersensorkörpers (38) und einen Abschnitt fern der Basis (36) des Schwimmersensorkörpers (38) aufweist, wobei der Abschnitt (70) neben der Basis (36) des Schwimmersensorkörpers (38) einen magnetisch aktivierten Schalter (32) enthält;
    einen Schwimmer (74) mit einem Körperabschnitt (78), einem Aktivierungsmagneten (76), welcher an dem Körperabschnitt (78) montiert ist;
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Abschnitt fern der Basis eine vertikale Öffnung (72) bildet, welche durch den horizontalen Schaft (68) führt, und dass der Schwimmer (74) ein nach unten herabhängendes vertikales Element (80) umfasst, welches innerhalb der vertikalen Öffnung (72) positioniert ist, wobei das vertikale Element (80) mindestens ein elastisches Vorspannelement (87) aufweist, welches der Entfernung des Schwimmers (74) aus dem horizontalen Schaft (68) entgegenwirkt, wobei die vertikale Bewegung des Schwimmers (74) den Aktivierungsmagneten (76) in Bezug auf den magnetisch aktivierten Schalter (32) bewegt, was eine Zustandsänderung des magnetisch aktivierten Schalters (32) bewirkt.
  2. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der magnetisch aktivierte Schalter (32) ein Reedschalter ist.
  3. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der horizontale Schaft (68) eine obere Oberfläche (96) und eine untere Oberfläche (92) und einen sich von einer unteren Oberfläche erstreckenden Flansch (90), welcher verhindert, dass der Schwimmerkörperabschnitt (78) über der unteren Oberfläche montiert wird, aufweist.
  4. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1-3, wobei das vertikale Element (80) und die Öffnung (72) formkomplementär und nicht achsensymmetrisch sind, so dass das vertikale Element (80) lediglich in einer Ausrichtung innerhalb der Öffnung (72) positioniert werden kann.
  5. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die obere Oberfläche (96) des horizontalen Schafts (68) konvex ist.
  6. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1-5, wobei der Schwimmersensorkörper (38) in einer Einsetzführung (64) zum Einsetzen durch die Durchführungsdichtung (56) in den Behälter endet, wobei sich der horizontale Schaft (68) und der Körperabschnitt (78) des Schwimmers (74), wenn gegen den horizontalen Schaft (68) positioniert, und das vertikale Element (80) innerhalb des Profils der Führung (64) erstrecken.
  7. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 2-6, ferner beinhaltend einen Verbinder (26) mit zwei Leitern (28, 30) und mit einem Abschnitt, der außerhalb des Behälters verbleibt, wobei der Reedschalter (32) innerhalb des horizontalen Schafts (68) positioniert ist und an den zwei Leitern (28, 30) angeschlossen ist.
  8. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß einem der Ansprüche 2-6, ferner beinhaltend einen Verbinder (26) mit zwei Leitern (28, 30) und mit einem Abschnitt, der außerhalb des Behälters verbleibt, wobei sich der horizontale Schaft (68) von dem Verbinder erstreckt und in einer Einsetzführung (64) zum Einsetzen durch die Durchführungsdichtung (56) in den Behälter (24) endet.
  9. Schwimmersensor (20) gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei der Reedschalter (32) innerhalb des horizontalen Schafts (68) positioniert und an den zwei Leitern (28, 30) angeschlossen ist.
EP04007771.1A 2003-04-10 2004-03-31 Füllstandssensor zur seitlichen Montage Expired - Fee Related EP1467189B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/410,477 US6892573B2 (en) 2003-04-10 2003-04-10 Side-mountable fluid level sensor
US410477 2003-04-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1467189A1 EP1467189A1 (de) 2004-10-13
EP1467189B1 true EP1467189B1 (de) 2017-07-19

Family

ID=32869209

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04007771.1A Expired - Fee Related EP1467189B1 (de) 2003-04-10 2004-03-31 Füllstandssensor zur seitlichen Montage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6892573B2 (de)
EP (1) EP1467189B1 (de)
ES (1) ES2640214T3 (de)

Families Citing this family (9)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8757549B2 (en) 2010-04-28 2014-06-24 Honeywell International Inc. Fuel gauge for an unmanned aerial vehicle
KR101223776B1 (ko) * 2010-12-15 2013-01-17 인지컨트롤스 주식회사 오일레벨 센서
US9003878B2 (en) * 2011-12-22 2015-04-14 Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. Variable orientation fluid level sensor with optional slosh guard
DE102014114941A1 (de) * 2014-10-15 2016-04-21 Endress + Hauser Gmbh + Co. Kg Hybrid-Flansch
US11724272B2 (en) 2016-10-26 2023-08-15 Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for a material sensor for a material pump
US11267010B2 (en) 2016-10-26 2022-03-08 Carlisle Fluid Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for a material sensor for a material tank
US10429214B2 (en) * 2017-03-07 2019-10-01 Newtonoid Technologies, L.L.C. Modular elongated wall-mounted sensor system and method
US10201979B1 (en) 2017-08-14 2019-02-12 Xerox Corporation Fluid level sensor with orientation indicator
CN110918559A (zh) * 2019-12-19 2020-03-27 徐州振丰超声电子有限公司 一种滤芯旋转超声波清洗机

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1467189A1 (de) 2004-10-13
ES2640214T3 (es) 2017-11-02
US20040200278A1 (en) 2004-10-14
US6892573B2 (en) 2005-05-17

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